Ho Ho Holy Cow its been cold!!

Wow so most importantly I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and the New Year brings everyone happiness! I am glad to say we made it through the holidays. Its all a blur now looking back. It seems like one day it was Thanksgiving and we did a little shopping and Bam it was Christmas! The weather has been cold, so cold you don't even want to leave the house but hey that South Dakota for ya huh! But the sun is out today so I wont complain!

So let me see what has happened since I last posted... a lot I'm sure but this is what I remember. Josh found out on the 11Th of December that he made Tech Sergeant which is a pretty big deal. We are so happy and proud of him, he did allot of studying and its just nice to know all his hard work payed off. So with that happy news I was glad to pass my truck down ha ha, because honestly that is what he wanted. In the process I scored myself a pretty nice ride (this was also his idea). So now we have two perfectly running cars that both have reverse (funny story if you know what I'm talking about)!

Haley Rae has been busy with school and friends. She counted down the days till Christmas and more excited this year than I can remember her being in the past. She has lost two teeth in the past month and let me tell you she picks the best time to lose them. Both times it was after nine when she was already in bed and comes hauling up the stairs and is all excited and guess who never has cash in her wallet? That's right the Tooth Fairy! So I have learned to keep at least a couple dollar bills on me now! Those late night trips to the store have been pretty chilly in my Jammie's! She also got several inches cut off her hair about a week ago and has grown to love head bands! Who knew they would still be in style!

Brady is doing good as well. This is the first Christmas that he really enjoyed, I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that presents are now cool and fun to open. He is still on his super hero kick, I think we might have to buy another Iron Man DVD if he keeps watching it as much as he does. It is no joke the first and the last thing he wants to do everyday! Buzz Lightyear is pretty cool now too. He was given a bunch of presents this year and the theme seemed to be the more noise it made the better! He talking up a storm and sometimes the things he says amaze me. He is truly one of the sweetest kids ever.

I am super. Just trying to come up with the New Years Resolution. If anyone has an idea feel free to share. Other than that daunting task I've just been staying busy with the kids, I still look at them everyday and I just feel like I am the luckiest person! I also am looking forward to some warmer weather and I know I might have to wait a while but I will be waiting! Till next time everyone take care!

I'm going to put a video of the kids on here opening up one present the night before Christmas! Had to make sure they opened up the same present to avoid any hard feelings! Thanks Grandma for the Fuzzy I-Dogs! Also just Thanks in general to everyone for the gifts! Who doesn't like presents!!

Love

The Hampton's!!

I know its been a while....

Wow today was finally one of those days I could catch up on everything. I know I act like I am sooo busy ha ha! But there has been alot going on these last couple of weeks. Still no excuse to ignore all my fans! Ha ha! Since the blizzard we are still waiting for all the snow to melt. Makes washing your vehicle a lost cause around here. But Josh did clean up my pick and its looking pretty shiny! We have been trying to help with my moms wedding as much we can and just trying to keep up with the regular day in and day out mumbo jumbo!

Haley is doing well. She got to put on her pretty purple dress for grandmas wedding which was last night. You could just tell the minute she put it on she felt like a princess. She danced all night and even sang two songs at the wedding in front of everyone. Which even though you couldn't understand what she was saying and of course she did know all the words, it was just awesome that she got up and sang and wasn't worried about what anyone thought. It was one of the highlights of my night. She gets to be the "Star of the Week," from the 24th of November to the 5th of December at school so she is pumped about that!

Brady is pretty good too. He also got his groove on last night. They are both fabulous dancers. (Obviously they get that from me, Josh is a little stiff on the dance floor!) He has been asking to watch football alot which to be honest frightens me... I'm just hoping he doesn't take after his dad, when it choosing a team. I dont want him to be the kids with the bad team colors, giggle! He has also taken a liking to Action Characters like Iron Man and the Hulk. He wakes up some morning and says where my Iron Man mom!

Josh is good. He is just gearing up to take that big Tech test which I am sure he is ready to get over with. Everyone say a little prayer for him. He has been studying since February or so and I just hope it all pays off for him. But regardless we will love him even if it doesn't all pan out.

I am too am swell. Just getting my Christmas shopping going and feeling ready for some Turkey and Pie! I will try and get back in the groove of this blog deal, but we all know how the holidays go so we will see.
Hope Everyone is doing well. Until next time take care everyone! Also a big huge Congratulations to my mom and Kevin. We are happy for you! Ciao! Lindsey

Just some more pics!!!

Holy Blizzard!!!

Wow here we are day two of being snowed in...well we shoveled our way...wait scratch that, Josh shoveled us out! Honestly I don't think any of us could have handled another day of being couped up inside, we had run out of ideas and things to do to keep the kids occupied. Our nerves and patience for one another was wearing thin and we really needed to get out! We couldn't even see out of the windows until this morning. They were all pretty much iced over. But when we were able to see outside, the were drifts taller than Haley and it looked like a mess. Oh and of course the city and the county said a big no to plowing our street, sheesh where are my tax dollars going!

Finally able to go out our first stop was Target to of course get the necessary gear you know for sledding! So we picked up the kids new coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, boots and sleds! You know the cool saucer ones from when I was young!! Woot woot.

So now here we are happier that we all got some fresh air and even though it was cold it was so nice to know we didn't have to sit inside and decide what we were going to watch or what we were going to eat next... what is it anyway with cold weather and eating. Pretty sure if I was left alone with any kind of pie I would just park my tush on the couch and go to town!

Brady is napping away right now so he can get up and venture out for his first sledding experience. Haley has taken off to play with the neighborhood kids. Josh is outside shoveling still! Me I'm just blogging ha ha why am I inside... anyways I am going to post some pictures and a video of the kids. Also one picture of just how bad the roads were, Homestead street almost didnt even exist!! Hope everyone is well! Love Lindsey

Hallovember!!!

Well its November already...crazy I know. Seems like I lost half the year somewhere! Probably has something to do with the Josh being gone and not ever really feeling whole, if that makes sense. But he is home, actually got back home on Thursday which was a huge relief. The kids needed him home, its just better to have a mom and a dad to drive nuts.

We went Trick or Treating last night. Which was a success. I was so worried we wouldn't be able to find something Brady would keep on but after two attempts at either a football player or an M&M we finally decided on a pirate which Haley actually wore two years ago. He looked super cute. Josh painted on a little beard. He liked the shoe covers which were made to look like boots and he was diggin on the hat I could tell. He went from house to house with his pal Alex and it was so cute to hear them say Trick or Treat and then thanks. We did about 10 houses which I thought was a pretty big deal, because he is only 2 after all.

Haley looked amazing. She was a vampire. Josh actually did her make-up too, mine just wasn't good enough. But it did turn out allot cuter I have to admit. Good to know he has something to fall back on when he gets out of the Air Force (Make-Up Artist to the Stars, I can see it now!). Haley went around the neighborhood with her most favorite cousin Kortney. She had a good time. She came home and picked through her candy and let me know I could have all the reject candy! I look forward to this day now all year nothing like sending your kid around the neighborhood to get you some candy!

Now here we are and I am looking forward to the Holidays always nice to get together with the family, no matter how stressful that can be, ha ha! Haley cant wait for Josh to put up the Christmas lights, speaking of that he really should have done that today, its beautiful out. But that would be a little too ambitious for Josh, as he is napping right now. I guess he will have to deal with the 15-20 degree difference when he decides to do that.

Needless to say we are doing well and happy to be back together making each other laugh and drive each other crazy. Nothing like more laundry!!! Welcome back Josh!! Ha ha. I am going to also put on here a video of Alex and Brady riding bikes in the garage after the we went around the neighborhood, its just funny to watch them. You will see Josh and Chris helping them when they wreck and not tip over. Keep in mind this video is not for the queasy!

Everyone take care until next time....

Love Lindsey :)

Another Friday in the books!

Wow here we are and its Friday and I couldn't be happier... we get a break from school and some much needed down time after a long week. The weather is getting cruddy and I just wish we could have a couple more nice days with sunshine and no wind! Don't get me wrong I love the change of seasons and the leaves are so pretty when they change colors but they keep blowing into my garage and cause me much stress haha! I lead a very stressful life and the last thing I need is leaves all over the place, kidding kidding.

Haley seems to be having a pretty good week. I went and got her a sassy vampire costume for Halloween and now the count down begins. She is excited to put on the make-up and be all vamped out. School is going good, she doesn't seem to want to talk about the day much, but she always fills me in on what happened on the playground. I am sure that is much more important to her right now that solving math problems. She misses her dad and has a moment about once a day where she can be fine and the next thing you know you look over at her and there is a tear sliding down her face. She's a tough cookie though and is at that age where she now understands why he is gone and I constantly reassure her that he will be back in no time.

Brady is just turning into a such a big boy. He doesn't seem to need me for much anymore. He gets the milk and the cereal and a bowl out and tries to make his own bowl of cereal. Which is super cute but what is going to happen that I day I am in the shower too long and he spills a gallon of milk all over the floor... His imagination is taking off too, we play anything from cars to dinosaurs to domino's and has some of the best ideas! Like doing a car wash in the bath with old tooth brushes and some soap! Pretty Cute! He loves to be outside too and rides bikes and his new thing is Haley's scooter which is fun to watch. This is why we need more nice days its starting to get to chilly to play out there!

I am fine and so is Josh. We got some news today that he could be gone for a while longer. As much as this makes me sad simply because we miss him terribly I have to understand that its a pride thing and he doesn't want to come home till the job is done. Still I cant wait for that day we get to go pick him up from the airport and I get to wrap my arms around him and give a big squeeze while I tell him I get to sleep in in the morning! Haha!

Hope you all are well.

Love the Hamps!

Such is life...

Well this past week went by fast except for the 4 days Haley didn't have school...ha ha. Seems like I get all excited for the long weekends like its going to benefit me somehow and it does... because I get to spend allot of "extra" time with my kids, and I am grateful for that don't get me wrong... but it might have been the longest 4 days of my life! We miss Josh and still cant wait for him to come home and have a lazy day with us... where all we do is shower and put our jammies back on!
Haley is doing good. She has reading homework every night and its fun to listen to her read to me and she loves the praise. She has her first teachers conference tonight so we will see how that goes. When she isn't at school she is running the neighborhood, she would prefer to never have to spend time with me unless she is going to benefit somehow... but I have to remember she is a kid and right now she would much rather play with friends than hang out with her mom.
Brady is feisty this last week. He seems to think he runs the show around here. Oh wait before I forget big announcement...He went to the potty on the potty today!!! Amazing, going to have to go buy a potty tomorrow and I know it could have been a fluke and a nervous piddle like new puppies do but I have to have a little faith here! Any who he has been telling me when he is wants to eat and demanding food like I am running a restaurant here, but it makes me laugh. He tells me when he is tired, when he is wet, and you get the picture. But he is growing up to fast, well they both are but such is life huh!!
As for me I'm just holding down the fort. Waiting for Josh to get back and looking forward to his hugs.
Hope everyone is doing well I am going to post a silly video of the kids dancing and just being kids!
Love,
Lindsey

My first Blog!!!

Oh geez here we go!! I got this idea from a friend who does this, not sure where she finds the time but I am going to give it a whirl! Plus you know since the whole "reality show," thing fell through I thought this would be the second best thing, ha ha!!

Well I guess I will start with Josh... he left in January for the desert and got back on the 28th of July. Its was so nice to have him home. But just when it felt like things were finally getting back to normal if there was such a thing, we got the news he was going to Guam. So he left again on the 8th of September and we are still patiently waiting for him to get back to us. We are hoping its anytime before Halloween. Haley seems to think we wont be able to trick or treat without him. I just simply know he will be home before long because he is "THE BEST AGE MECHANIC EVER!!" BAME!!! Just a little joke for my pal and you know who you are!! Ha ha

On to Haley... she is a sassy seven! Currently in the first grade which is nice but the first few days were rough on me. Just weird not having her with me at least half the day. She plays soccer and not to brag or anything but she is amazing. Always out there hustling and doing what it takes to get the job done. She is aggressive and energetic and I love it!

Brady is two and acts every bit of it. We have started in with the "mine" and ugh you name it he says it. Its seems like just when you think they wont walk or talk the next day they are running away from you in the parking lot yelling at you. He's a fun loving super sweet kid. I think he is lucky to have a big sister and I know he learns alot from her, the good the bad and the ugly.

As for me I am doing good. I love my life and I feel blessed to be right where I am at!